“But she isn’t a virgin anymore,” I say, thinking back to the first night we had sex.
Zeke points at me then punches the air a few times. “Atta boy.”
“Zeke,” Jaxon and Grayson groan.
“Sorry. Okay, according to this ritual I found online—”
“Online?” I say, exasperated.
“You try searching for rituals that need blood of a virgin who are Mediterranean and see how hard it is, okay? This shit is crazy. Only insane people do this.
“For ritual it is said it takes seven years for the chosen one to be broken and truly enslaved to their master. Once they are, the…” Zeke clears his throat. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this.” He takes a deep breath. “The coven watches as the master takes his slave in front of everyone, making her bleed her virginity onto a bed. Once that happens, the coven takes their turn, and then they will slit her throat, bathing themselves in the purity of her blood they claim as their own, hoping it will give them unlimited power.”
No one says a word because we don’t believe it. It is too crazy. I knew my brother was insane, but I thought it was just about control, not some end goal.
“You’re serious?”
Zeke drinks his beer and turns to look at me. “I mean, it’s the best lead I have. A crazy, unheard of lead. This was lucky. When I asked for the tape from the department and ran facial recognition on the guy who dumped you, I started connecting the dots. If this isn’t it, then, Sebastian, I’m sorry; I don’t know why they want her.”
“Say this crazy shit is true,” Grayson says as he plays with the fur of his beard. “When does it happen?”
“It has to happen on a harvest moon. Harvest because, you know, they are ’harvesting’ her.”
“That’s so disturbing. I think… I think I’m going to be sick.” Quinn bolts up from the couch and runs down the hall to the bathroom.
“Was it something I said?” Zeke asks with his arms spread out.
“You’re sure about this? Even for my brother, this sounds insane. I don’t remember him believing in shit like this.”
“It isn’t real, Sebastian. Your brother is disturbed. He found people who think like him, and somehow he convinced them that this is essential. Your brother needs psychiatric help,” Zeke says.
“A bullet through the brain ought to do it,” I growl.
“Ah, the best type of medicine. Murder. I love it,” Zeke says. “So, Grayson, you said you have a location? Let’s go. Let’s ruin their party.”
“Wait. Hold on. If he found us hiking, then he has to know she isn’t a virgin anymore. His plan is ruined,” I realize. “He doesn’t need her anymore.”
Zeke tsks. “I’m disappointed. I thought you knew better than that.” He reaches over and pats my cheek. “He isn’t going to risk looking like a fool. No one will know she isn’t a virgin except him, and he has to be the one to take her the first time. He’ll risk killing her if it means keeping his authority with his crazy group of people.”
Just when I thought this situation couldn’t get any worse, Zeke drops this bomb on me. My brother thinks he is a magician, a fucking wizard, wiccan? I don’t know what they call it. What I do know is it is dangerous, wrong, and it includes hurting people. Not just anyone, but Gabriella.
“The harvest moon is tomorrow, guys,” Heaven says, waving his phone in the air. “Whatever plan we have, we better think of it quick, or she’s about to be sacrificed.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
GABRIELLA
I can’t move.
My back is killing me.
Kendrick had thrown me in the dark room, whipped me, and let me stay there all night. I didn’t give him the pleasure of hearing me scream. He didn’t deserve any more of my cries or pleas for him to stop because he’ll never stop. Not until I am dead.
The heavy metal door opens to the dark room, pouring in a massive amount of sunlight. I wince, looking away from the doorway.
“You learned your lesson, my sweet?”
I don’t speak to him. I continue to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth to try to make the pain go away.